DEER CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Issue 113, 10 November 1930, Page 10

DEER CAMPAIGN

HUNTERS IN FIELD

INTERNAL AFFAIRS EFFORT

WHAT IS BEING DONE

To provide additional attractions for tourists, deer were freely liberated in New Zealand. They have now become a menace, and the Department of Internal Affairs, which is charged with the administration of,the Animals Protection and Gamo Act, has adopted very stringent regulations for the destruction of the animals. In an interesting survey of the history of recent events of the matter, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, who •is charged with the responsibility of preventing the depredations of deer, showed what, was being done by the Department of Internal Affairs. There had been, the Minister said, a good deal of published criticism which was unfair to the Department he Ministerially controlled. "I may say," said Mr. de la Perrelle, "that in every way the officers of the Department of Internal Affairs are imbued with the spirit as to what is possible to see that bird life is preserved, and that the deer menace be properly grappled with. That, I think, will be conceded the Department." PROTECTION REMOVED. Going further into what had been done to cope with the lessening of the deer herds and what is proposed, the Hon. Mr. de la Perrelle said that protection on deer had been removed in portions of the Dominion for some years, and as indicated at the Deer Conference in, Christchureh, he was of opinion that protection should be removed throughout the Dominion. Following the conference, protection on chamois and thar was removed and protection on deer was also removed at various times throughout the various acclimatisation districts on the expiry of tho stalking seasons under licence, and to-day there is no protection on deer in any part of the Dominion. PROVISION FOR CAMPAIGN. The Minister pointed out that it had always been realised by the Department of Internal Affairs that the mere removal of protection would not solve the problem. At the Deer Conference in Christchureh, after a. full discussion it was clearly demonstrated that the matter was one of L s. d., and that it was necessary to make it worth while in order to get experienced men to engage in. the work. Provision was, therefore, made on the Internal Affairs Department's Estimates for a. sum of £5000, in addition to an amount provided by the Forestry Department, to finance the campaign, and the amount was voted by Parliament. On money becoming available, a meeting of representatives of the Lands and Survey, Agriculture, Internal Affairs, and Forestry Departments was called to submit recommendations, as to tho form the campaign should take. These representations being from Departments who are mainly concerned with the question, it was felt that by a full and frank discussion much good would result, and after the recommendations of the meeting were received the final details for a commencement of the campaign were worked out. The meeting of the. Departmental representatives confirmed the policy ,of the co-operation of Government Departments, which is pleasing, as it is apparent that it is only by this means that the campaign can be carried out with the lowest possible expenditure. THE BONUS PAYMENT. In districts in the South Island where protection had been removed prior to the general removal of protection throughout the Dominion, a bonus on tails. of deer destroyed was paid, and the Internal Affairs Department had since 1923-24 paid the bonus on 73,438 tails, representing an expenditure of £6279 19s 6d. It has now been" decided to extend the bonus payment (2a a tail) to the whole of tho South Island. Officers are being appointed in all acclimatisation districts to receive tails and to arrange payments. Chamois and thar will be covered by the payment. - The meeting of Departmental representatives recommended, in view of the amount of finance being limited, that at any ratefor the present the bonus payment should be confined to the South Island. Arrangements have been ■■ made with the Defence Department to supply ammunition for deer destruction to acclimatisation societies at a' reduced cost. Several of the societies have in the past been supplying ammunition to settlers, and have undertaken to continue this arrangement and in other ways to co-operate with the Department in deer destruction by employing persons to kill tho animals, arranging special parties, etc. CO-OPERATION IN DESTRUCTION. As already indicated, the meeting of Departmental' representatives realised the absolute necessity for the co-opera-tion of Government Departments' in any campaign.- The rights, of pro-perty-owners as to parties entering were fully realised, but it was not anticipated that there, would be any difficulties where the parties were under/ proper supervision and comprising the right men—men who were keen on the work and anxious to make a success of it.\^ From the report of Mr. Yerex, who has been deputed to take charge of the operations, which for the time being at any rate will be confined to the South Island, it is gratifying to find that in the localities in which he has made inspections the fullest assistance possible will be afforded the Internal Affairs Department's parties. Authority has been issued for tho engagement of men to commence operations in tho Lake Hawca and Lake Wanaka localities. Complete arrangements have been made for camps, and the main'guiding factor will be to systematically work through a large block of country, extending the operations to adjoining country to which the deer will have moved. Operations in portions only of deer-infested country are useless, and it is only by a system as outlined that the country can bo effeeoutline that'the country can be effeePAYMENT OP MEN TO BE EMPLOYED. Tho question of the employment of men in the work and this payment has been the subject of a good deal of consideration. The object of tho campaign is, of course, to kill tho largest number of deer possible with the money available. The men, in addition to being good shots, must have had experience in bush craft and be robust, physically fit and healthy, and able to withstand unfavourable weather conditions. The Department is providing camp equipment, rifles and ammunition, and all a man has to find is his blankets find personal effects; in addition, of course, to provisions. As the goal is destruction of deer, it is apparent that a fixed regular wage would not offer any special inducement, but, at tho same time, it is realised that tho men could not be expected to accept employment if payment were made only on the basis of deer destroyed. It has, therefore, been decided to offer a guaranteed wage supplemented by a bonus on the skins of doer secured, and in addition, in tho case of the head man an additional over-riding commission on tho total

output of the party. This schemo has found favour not only with a number of men who have been interviewed on the question of accepting employment, but also by a number of run-holders on whoso properties operations would be carried out, as naturally they are anxious that as many deer as possible should bo destroyed, but that the parties should not remain longer than was necessary, as it is apparent that the parties' presence must cause somo inconvenience. SOME RECOMPENSE. It may not be realised by many that there will be some return from the results of tho parties' operations, but with.a view to augmenting the amount voted by Parliament and reducing the cost of destruction, the marketing_ of deer commodities has been the subject of a good deal of inquiry, and in addition to the: sale of skins and antlers, some trade in venison may be possible. The actual return will depend on results, but any return from sales will reduce the actual cost of the campaign, and special attention will be paid to this aspect. Irrespective of this, however, tho campaign will be pushed oii and in addition to the operations already referred to, it is proposed to undertake work on Stewart Island. Certain material has ■ been ordered from England to deal with the Virginian deer, as these animals require a method of attack different from that for other deer, and the campaign will not be launched there until the material arrives, when both the Virginian and red deer will be attacked. ACTIVITIES OF SOCIETIES. In some districts in the South Island requests have been made for a stalking season under licence next year. In addition to undertaking deer destruction in the area over which a stalking season would be declared, the societies are required to undertake work m other parts of their district or supply free ammunition to settlers, arid it has so far been agreed to declare short stalking seasons in South Westland, Rakaia Deer Forest, and an area in Southland. In all cases this course has been agreed upon after consulting the Forestry Department, and it is a condition that the resultant revenue received from licences must be expended on further deer destruction. No restrictions as to the number of deer which may be taken under licence or to sex or points on a head are to be imposed. „ With the co-operation of other bovcrnment Departments, acclimatisation societies, and also the .co-operation and assistance of property-holders, it is anticipated that the campaign in the South Island will be attended with satisfactory results., The Department is not attempting to operate all over the South Island at the same time, as it is evident that the best method is. to clear up country as far as possible systematically before leaving it to proceed to another deer-infested area.